Chapter 10: Who Ever Knew...

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…Waaah! The last chapter of the story! It's all over! DX

Oh well, it had to come to an end at some point, and I really wanted to get something up for you guys before I headed off to Hawaii tomorrow.

So as it is the end of the story, I just wanted to tell you guys how much I appreciate all of you who have followed this story to the very end. Your reviews and favorites always made my day, and you just made me feel so good about being a writer here. Loves and hugs to you all!:D:D:D:D

Now, I hope you all enjoy the chapter!

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Tanya was yelling and crying and laughing all at the same time when her Fiancé finally brought her daughter back home. And after about a couple of hours of hugging, kissing and threats to ground her for life if she ever pulled another stunt like tonight, James finally got her to bed, making to grab a heating blanket for Tessa to use for the night.

Tessa lay on her side with her back to Pitch as he watched everything from outside the window. James sat on his on the floor at side of the bed to have his face level with Tessa's as he stroked his fingers through her ebony curls, telling her how much he loved her and how worried he had been.

And after he made her promise never to sneak out of the house again, he leaned over and placed a kiss on her forehead before he quietly left the room.

Once he was gone, Pitch silently phased into the room, looking over Tessa's still form as she lay on her bed.

He didn't do anything right away; he just didn't know what to say. He told himself that he would do it, but after everything they've been through together, how can he just look her in the eyes and say goodbye?

He inwardly sighed, and eyes fell to the floor, how was he going to be able to face her?

"…I won't get to see you anymore, will I?" Tessa suddenly stated in a quiet voice.

He looked back up to see that Tessa had turned slightly to face him. And after a few seconds, he strode forward and came to a stop next to her bed.

"No Tessa," Pitch told her honestly, "Even though I'm not a Guardian, I'm still bound to the same rules they follow."

"We're only meant to be a part of a child's beliefs, to help them grow only until their grown enough to no longer need us."

Tessa said nothing to it as she only stared at him with those blue eyes of hers; biting on her trembling lip as though a cry was trying to escape.

"I'm sorry..." He said looking away from her, not knowing what else to say.

Without warning, Tessa flew back her blankets, leaped from the bed and into his arms while Pitch let out a startled gasp.

"I don't want you to go, Pitch!" The little girl said in a hushed voice, tightening her hold around his neck. He could tell she was trying so hard not to cry.

"You're my best friend, I'll always need you, even when I'm all grown up!" he heard her mumble into his robe. "Please don't go away!"

He couldn't say anything at first, he only held the child closer to him as he felt an old, familiar feeling clutch his heart. And after a moment, he realized that for the first time since he could remember, Pitch Black felt sorrow.

It made him feel warm to hear her words, but it also hurt him terribly...

"Oh Tessa, please don't be sad," He finally whispered, saying it to himself as well. "Just because you'll no longer be able to see me like this, it doesn't mean I won't be near."

"I'll always be around."

Tessa slowly pulled back to look him in the eye, rubbing tears away from her own. "You will?" she asked him.

Pitch gave a laugh, placing her back on the bed. "Of course, you understand that I'm called the 'King of Nightmares' for a reason?" Pitch told her with a grin. "The next time you have a nightmare, think of it as me coming to challenge you."

"Challenge me?"

"Yes, I'll send a whole army of monsters," Pitch said with a firm nod. "Who knows, maybe I'll win against you next time."

"No way!" Tessa said, finally relaxing and giving a small smile. "Monsters are no match for Tessa the Brave!" Then she suddenly gave a large yawn, looking very sleepy.

"I'll…I'll fight 'til they're all beaten…"

"Alright, my fearless little Hero," Pitch said, chuckling as he gently urged her to lie down on her bed. "But we'll hold off on the monster fighting until another dream."

"Good night Pitch," Tessa said in a tired voice as he put her blanket over her.

"Goodnight Tessa," the Nightmare King said, tucking the covers around her shoulders. "But you better watch your toes in the future; I might be hiding under your bed one of these nights and hungry for a snack."

Tessa gave one last sleepy giggle, and then she was out like a light; Giving out soft, gentle snores as she waited for a dream.

And as if on cue, a trail of golden sand trickled into her room and twirled over her head. Pitch couldn't help but smile when he saw the image of her playing with James and himself.

"Sandy, give her the sweetest dreams you can conjure." Pitch said softly. "After tonight, she's earned it."

An urge suddenly came over him, one that was foreign, but at the same time, oddly familiar; And the image of what James did, kissing her forehead before he left, it kept replaying over and over in his mind.

Was that what he wanted to do?

Careful not to wake her, Pitch slowly began to lean down. He hesitated at first, but finally he placed his lips against her brow in a gentle kiss.

Tessa stirred slightly, but she settled back down with a soft hum and a little smile. She looked so blissfully content as she slept, it made Pitch give a little smile as well as he just sat and watched her dreams a little while longer.

But when the sand image of Tessa gave the image of himself a big hug, he had to force himself to pull away.

"Goodbye Tessa, I will miss you... " he whispered as he got up from the bed, stroking his fingers through her hair one last time before he finally phased out of the room and unto the roof of a neighboring house. Looking back through the child's window before a bright, pale light shined behind him, making him turn to face the moon.

"…Old friend, is this how the Guardians feel when they take care of children?" he asked after a long pause.

Of course he got no answer, but that was fine with him as he went on with a muse. "I've never heard of a child who could love fear." Pitch started, "But Tessa, she's truly is something special."

"I suppose that's why you lead her to me, isn't it?"

He looked back up to the moon with a small smile, but it slowly faded as an apologetic expression came across his face. "I'm sorry," he started. "What I did before was wrong, I know that now."

"I was so caught up in my anger and jealousy, that the harm I could have done had I succeeded was lost to me; Fear shouldn't be used as a source of power, it should only be a lesson." He continued. "It's meant to bring caution, to teach children about being safe in certain situations."

"And though what I do is not as enjoyable as the others, I still want to do my part for the children of this world, because however unpleasant fear can be, it's necessary to have." He paused, giving a small smile as he shrugged his shoulders. "And who knows, maybe I'll find another like Tessa along the road."

He turned back towards Tessa's house, giving her slumbering form one last look before he called his Nightmares to him and mounted, taking off into the starry sky as he quietly mused to himself.

"Still, who ever knew that even the Boogeyman could have a friend…"

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Alrighty, that's the end.

Eventually I'm gonna go through the story and make changed to all the chapters. Correcting spelling errors and such. I don't know when I'll do it, but it WILL be done, reading over the chapters made me cringe at how many typos there were X(.

But I hope you've all enjoyed this journey as much as I have, thank you all for making it so special!

Aloha every body!:D:D:D